The competition for the 2011 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series can be broken into two distinct categories: Those who’ve already won an Emmy, and those who got their very first nomination just this year.

This category might as well be called Outstanding cable Drama Series. Between the strong contenders on HBO (Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones), AMC (Mad Men, The Killing, The Walking Dead) and FX (Justified, Sons of Anarchy), the broadcast networks will be lucky if they get one show in the running. If they do, that show will likely be the best of the bunch, CBS’ The Good Wife.

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Just want to say hi? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: I am loving Lexie and Avery on Grey’s Anatomy. Any chance Lexie will stick with him (the hot, age-appropriate doc) over Mark (the guy old enough to be her dad)? —Shari
Ausiello: I can tell you that there’s a bit of a time jump in the early part of May sweeps, and when the action picks up, they’re still an item. In the meantime, we’ll find out in next week’s musical episode how Mark feels about his ex playing doctor with McPrettyEyes. “Callie mentions that he is devastated by it,” reveals Chyler Leigh. “We don’t really see much interaction between Mark and Lexie in the next couple of episodes. I’m sure it will come to a head [the next time] they’re in the same room together for more than a few minutes.” …READ MORE

Warning: Head to the nearest exit if you have yet to watch Sunday’s wholly satisfying Big Love finale. Everyone else, head onward and downward for an exclusive post mortem with series creators Mark Olsen and Will Scheffer, during which the duo tackle everything from that shocking climactic twist (crikey!), the Heather/Ben scene that ended up on the cutting room floor, and who did and didn’t commit suicide in the episode. …READ MORE

Big Love‘s extraordinary five-year run comes to a close this Sunday night on HBO (at 9/8c), and Henrickson patriarch Bill Paxton is here with some intriguing series-ending input: How will it all end? Was all that “Season 4 brouhaha” to blame for the show’s rapid wrap-up? And what won’t you see in the finale? Find out now. …READ MORE

One of the most surprising things about the final season of HBO’s Big Love (Sundays at 9/8c) — besides the Henricksons going public with their polygamist beliefs, of course — has been the emergence (and importance!) of Nicki’s daughter, played by up-and-comer Cassi Thomson. Will Cara Lynn’s illicit affair further destroy the family? How will it all end? Thomson tells all to TVLine. READ MORE